Electrically-operated apparatus for discharging liquids for flushing or other purposes.



W. H. & R. THOMPSON. ELBOTBIGALLY OPERATED APPARATUS FOR msomnemeLIQUIDS FOB FLUBHING on OTHER PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 'l, 1910.

978,678. Patented Dec. 13. 1910.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES. INVENTDRS.

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W. H. & R. THOMPSON. ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED APPARATUS FOR DISOHARGINGLIQUIDS FOR. FLUSHING OR OTHER PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED EBBHI, 1910.

978,678. Patented Dec. 13,1910.

4 sums-sum 2.

INVENTORS.

1n: NORRIS FKTIRJ co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

W'. H. & R. THOMPSON. ELBGTBIGALLY OPERATED APPARATUS FOR DISGHARGINGLIQUIDS FOR PLUSHING OR OTHER PURPOSES. APPLICATION FILED Inn. 7, 1910.

. 978,678. Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTORS'.

rul uanlll PII'IRI cm, wnnnmwn, nc.

' W. H. & R. THOMPSON.

ELEGTBIOALLY OPERATED APPARATUS FOR DISOHAEGING LIQUIDS ron FLUSHING OROTHER PURPQSES. APPLICATION I'ILIID NIB. 7, 1910.

4 SKEETB-BEEET 4.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

INVENTORS.

azmfll' WITNESSE S /ZZT "ll uomua rl'rlns ca., WLININGI'ON, u. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON AND ROBERT THOMPSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIOALLY-OPERATED APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING LIQUIDS FOR FLUSHING OROTHER PURPOSES.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed. February 7, 1910. Serial No. 542,492.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON and ROBERT THOMPSON, bothsubjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at 155Fenchurch street, in the city of London, England, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Electrically-Operated Apparatus forDischarging Liquids for Flushing or other Purposes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically-operated apparatus fordischarging liquids for flushing or other purposes, and has for itsobject the production of apparatus for discharging liquids which can beeasily and readily set in operation without the expenditure of manualpower, provide a full rapid and powerful discharge, and in which thecistern or receptacle for the liquid is filled and emptied with minimumnoise.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate some methods of carryingthis invention into practice :-Figure 1 is a perspective view showingthe general arrangement of an apparatus for flushing purposes. Fig. 2 isa view in side elevation-partly in section-of the cistern or receptacle,Figs. 3 and 4: are views in side and front elevation respectively of thepress switch. Fig. 5 is a detail front view of the automaticmakeand-break device. Fig. 6 is a side view of the same, showing a partof the cistern in section. Fig. 7 is a side view showing a modificationof the means for connecting the solenoid with the valve D. Fig. 8 is aside view partly in section showing a modification of the apparatus.

Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters ofreference.

The present invention comprises essentially a cistern or receptacleadapted to contain and be filled in any suitable manner with the liquidto be discharged, an outlet from said cistern controlled by a valveoperated electrically, a switch arranged in circuit with the means foroperating the valve, and a make-and-break device or second switch-alsoin circuit with the first switch and valve operating means-adapted to beoperated by the rise and fall of the liquid within the cistern, thearrangement being such that on establishing an electrical circuit by theswitch the said switch keeps the circuit automatically closed andtherefore the discharge valve of the cistern open until the latter isemptied when the circuit is automatically broken, thereby closing thesaid valve and putting the switch into a condition for furtheroperation.

We will now more particularly describe our invention, making referenceto the accompanying drawing, in which- A designates a cistern orreceptacle having arranged therein a float B attached to the radiatingor moving end of a lever b fixed to or connected with a spindle I)mounted in bearings formed in the sides of the cistern A so that thesaid spindle b may form an axis on which the float lever I) radiates.One end of the spindle b projects through the side of the cistern sothat it may receive and operate a quadrant C. This quadrant G isprovided with an insulated strip 0 of metal or other good con-,

ductor adapted to form a rubbing contact surface for spring contactfingers conveniently carried by the side of said cistern A, thearrangement being such that the said strip 0 keeps said contact fingersin electrical connection with one another at all such times as the floatB is supported by the water in the cistern but when the cistern is emptythe electrical contact between said contact fingers is broken by reasonof one of them contacting an insulated part 0 beyond the said strip 0.The cistern A is provided with a suitable cover a so that it may besealed and made air-tight and is also furnished with a suitably locatedinlet a and an outlet a ator near the bottom and in some cases may berovided with a shifting or other suitable va ve. The outlet 0. isarranged to be closed by a suitable valve D capable of operation forretaining the water in the cistern A or controlling its outflow ashereinafter mentioned.

The valve D is carried by the one end of a valve spindle cl whoseopposite or upper end carries a core or armature c for a sole noid orelectro-magnet E carried by the cover a of the cistern. The solenoid orelectro-magnet E is so arranged in relation to its core or armature cthat when in circuit with a suitable source of electric current thevalve D is lifted offits seating so as to open the outlet a? and allowthe water contained in the cistern A to discharge through a pipe a: inconnection with the said outlet (1?.

The current by which the solenoid or electro-magnet E is influenced iscontrolled by a press switch F (see more particularly F 3, t and Thisswitch comprises a bracket 7' adapted to be secured to a wall or otherconvenient place and carrying a solenoid or electro-magnet coil f, thecore or armature f? of which is in the form of a plunger working througha bearing in the bracket f. To the upper part of said plunger is fixed acollar carrying a contact stud f adapted to pass down between andestablish contact with springflngers The plunger is depressed by meansof a press knob f on its upper end against a suitably arrangedcompression spring 7", which spring returns the plunger to its normalcondition when not held down by the sole noid or electro-magnet coil funder excitation. I

The electrical connections between the various parts are as follows:Fromthe one pole of a suitable source of power a lead 1 is taken to one ofthe spring contact fin gers f of theswitch F and when the stud f is incontact with both said fingers f the current traverses the coil 7 and isthen led by a lead 2 to the coil of the valve solenoid E. From thesolenoid E a lead 3 is takento one of the spring fingers at of thequadrant C and the other spring finger is by a lead 4 connected totheother pole of the source of power. It will beunderstood that thevarious parts in electrical connection are insulated where requisite toinsure the current taking the path above described. It will thus be seenthat on depressing the knob f of the switch F a circuit is estab lishedcausing the valve D to be opened to discharge the water in the cisternA. This circuit as before described is not again broken until thecistern is emptied, whereupon the circuit being broken the valve 1)closes and the plunger of the switch F rises under the influence of thespring 6 ready for further operation. WVhen the cistern A is properlysealed the water is discharged with a force according to the pressure ofwater acting on the volume of air accumulated in the upper part of it.The action and power of the valve'solenoid E may be transmitted to thevalve D by means of a lever or system of levers G (as illustrated onFig. 7) and links connecting the solenoid core 6 with the valve spindle(Z so as to multiply the force of the solenoid in its action on thevalve 'D.

In the modification illustrated on Fig. 8 the cistern A is supplied withwater by the usual float feed valve and the stem (l ofthe dischargevalve Dis operated by a lever 6Z1 fulcrumed within the cistern andconnected by'its one end to the free end of the stem (Z. The other endof said lever (Z is brought outside the cistern and there connected bymeans of a chain or link (Z with the core or armature e of the solenoidE. The other parts and connections to which no reference is made arearranged as before described or modified as required.

The mechanism may be further varied or adapted or other known device ordevices may be used to operate in connection with it for automaticallymaking and breaking the circuit and we may apply other known forms andarrangements of electro-magnets that may be suitable in substitutionforeither or both of the solenoids hereinbefore mentioned.

The herein described arrangement and combination of electrical orelectro-ma'gnetic apparatus and parts forming our invention maybeadapted and applied to the valves or mechanism of various apparatusfor discharging or flushing water or other fluid.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is'1. The combination, with a cistern pro vided with an outlet, of a valvecontrolling the said outlet, an electric device for opening the saidvalve, a switch arranged in circuit with the said electric device, and amake-and-break device also included in the circuit and operatedautomatically by the rise and fall of the liquid in the cistern, thecircuit being broken when the liquid falls, thereby permitting the valveto close.

2. The combination, with an air-tight cistern provided with an outletand adapted to hold the liquid to be discharged under pneumaticpressure, of a valve controlling the said outlet, an electric device foropening the said valve, a switch arranged in circuit with the saidelectric device, and a make-a11dbreak device also included in thecircuit and operated automatically by the rise and fall of the liquid inthe cistern, the circuit being broken when the lilquid falls, therebypermitting the valve to c ose.

3. The combination, with a cistern provided with an'outlet, of a valvecontrolling the said outlet, an electric device for operating the saidvalve, a switch arranged in circuit with the-said electric device, amakeand-break device also included in the circuit, and a float arrangedin the cistern and operatively connected with the make-andbreak device,the circuit being broken on the descent of the float, thereby permittingthe valve to close.

4:. The combination, with a cistern provided with an outlet, of avalvecontrolling the said outlet, a solenoid for 1 operating the said valve,a switch arranged in circuit with the said solenoid, and a makeand-breakdevice also included in the circuit and operated automatically by therise and fall of the liquid in the cistern, the circuit being brokenwhen the liquid falls, thereby permitting the valve to close.

5. The combination, with a cistern prowhen the liquid falls, therebypermitting the 10 vided with an outlet, of a valve controlling valve toclose. the said outlet, a solenoid, lever mechanism In testimony whereofWe affix our signaoperatively connecting the solenoid With the tures inpresence of two witnesses. valve, a switch arranged in circuit with theWVILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON. said solenoid, and a make-and-break deviceROBERT THOMPSON. also included in the circuit and operated WVitnesses:automatically by the rise and fall of the PHILIP D. WINSTANLEY, liquidin the cistern, the circuit being broken JOHN STRATHORN.

